Support or bracket of hanger type



Dec. 30. 1941. R. E. BEEGLE v 2,268,237

SUPPORT OR B-RCKET OF'HANGER vTYPE Filed Aug. 3o, 1959 v l FIGJ.

V INVENTOR Patented Dec. 30, 1941 'UNITED STATES PATeNrvoI-FlcI-L surronfr on BRACKET` or HANGER TYPE Raymond E. Beegle, East St. Louis, Ill. Applicatin August so, 1939, serialno. 292,586 1o claims. `(c1. 248-235).

`This invention relates to improvements in supports or brackets of hanger type, for supporting Y wallshelves and the like, as well as a shelving assembly utilizing an improved form of suspension bracket. l l

An object of the invention is to provide an improved bracket adapted as a tension or hanger element, for engaging and supportingthe `outer or overhanging edge of a wall shelf, and adapted further, for supporting the inner or wall-abutting edge of a Wall shelf thereabove. Thus the bracket serves to support in part, adjacent upper and lower shelves. Moreover, in effecting the support of an outer edge of one shelf and the inner edge of another, the bracket thereby determines the vertical spacing of the shelves; thus in a series orbank of such shelves, uniform vertical spacing thereof may be attained through `the utilization of equal length brackets of the im,- proved type indicated, and conversely, by em` ploying brackets of one length between certain of the shelves, and brackets of another length between others thereof, any desired relative spacing of the shelves may be readily attained.

` l Additional objectives of the invention include theiprovision of a tension-type shelf' hanger of` such improved design that the Weight of the shelving, with or without superposed loading, tends to draw the shelving to the Wall or other vertical support for the shelf assembly.

Yet another object of the invention is attained in an improved tension bracket or shelf hanger which bridges opposite margins of superposed shelves, and yet is of such design that a given size of bracket or hanger is of a wide range of adaptability, enablingit to be utilized with shelving of widths differing over a range of several inches.

, A still further object of the invention is` attained in an improved readily detachable combination of shelving or shelf hangers, such that the shelving is easily removable from and engageable with the hangers or brackets at any time, and,`expressed as a preference in relation to the disclosed example, the shelving is endwise insertableA and removable in and from the hanger or bracket assembly.

An additional and important object of the in vention is attained in a shelf hanger of such l l design that the hanger or bracket elements impose the greater proportion of load on their holding members, such as wall screws for example, in

shear, and only to a minor extent in a direction axially of the holding members,` it'being noted that in many older `designs there is a marked tendency'of increased loading of the shelves to impose` an axial pull and so to Withdraw the screws or the `like from the wall or other vertical support.

`Another object resides in the provision of an improved shelf bracket of hanger type, in which the ends thereof are substantially identical in structurefandf form, Y but relatively reversed, whereby to adapt either end for supporting engagement withlthe overhanging edge. of a lower shelf,or the inner edge of an upper shelf, a given endlof the bracket functioning in the first mentioned respect when the bracketis disposed in an operative position, and functioning in the second mentionedrespect only upon reversing the bracket,v end for end, and re-locating it in the same operative `position.`

Another object is to provide a bracket ofthe form and for the purpose indicated, in` which each of its ends is Iadapted for bracket-mounting upon a Wall or other vertical supporting element, each end being provided for this purpose, with anaperture or `slot to accommodate a supporting element of suitable form, the bracket-mounting cooperation of the supporting element andthe aperture being such as to facilitate easy and rapid attachment or detachment of the bracket relative to the supporting element, and yet such as to preclude any casual or `unintended disconnection of the hanger or bracket from its support. Yet another object resides in theprovision of improved shelf-supporting bracket elements of the type indicated, which may be readily 'manufactured at low unit cost, and which are well adapted for compact grouping or nesting, to facilitate storage, packing and shipping thereof. Further objects and advantages will readily appear from the following description of a preferredembodiment of the invention, as illustrated by the accompanying drawing, in whichz` d Llis a vertical, end elevation of a bank of wall-shelves, "employing as supports therefor, brackets of the type forming the subject of the present invention; Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the shelf-bank of Fig. l; Fig. 3 is an enlarged elevation in perspective, of a preferred form of thevimproved bracket; Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectionalelevation, greatly enlarged, of the shelf andV bracket assembly, showing the manner of mounting the bracket; Fig. 5 is a vertical, transverse section of a shelf and bracket assembly, illustrating a modification in the support of a shelf by the brackets; Fig. 6 is a fragmentary section thereof,` as viewed from line 6-6 in Fig. 5, and Fig. 7 illustrates the manner of grouping or to the. portion 212.

The brackets, one of which is clearly shown in detail in Fig. 3, may be` formed from .oney piece, nat strip or bar stock of suitable gauge or thickness, the structural shaping of thebar and its ends being accomplished `in any suitable,

well-known manner, as by stamping and. pressing operations. As appears from the drawing, particular reference .being .had-t Fig. 3 therein, the bracket 1.14 is. comprised of .alinear body portion I of flat-bar or `stri-p form, having its ends 4|16 and I1 formed to provide hook-like elements which projectoppositely and outwardly from the plane. of therlat portion of @the body, .'Ilhe end I (i which .presents` La .substantially .V-shaped. bend, in` the Vnature of ya right `angled terminal, in-

cludes an intermediate 'portion 'I8 Vprojecting laterally and forwardly of.- the body I5, at an obtuse :angle thereto, and anfend portion I9 di rected rearwardly ofl the end. .and .substantially normal tothe `portiony fI8. LA rectangular aperture or .slot 28 is .provided Tin the-portion ;I8Ito accommodate 'a fbracket. supporting element, :such las .the rectangular-.head screw or bolt ZI (Fig. 4.)., the manner of associatngfthe ,bracket With theV screw, for bracket-imeunting, 'being particularly reerred Lto hereinafter.

Thexoppositebracket end ,II which, as before noted, projectsnoppositely to the. end I 6, relative to the plane of the tbody I-5, is substantially `identi- Vcal .in form and structure, with the latter end.

It `includes an Vintermediate portion 22 directed forwardly of the Vbody atan obtuse angle thereto, anda rearwardly directed end portieri .23 normal A .rectangular aperture `or slot 24, similar to `that in the 4portion .I8 of end I6 and serving the same purpose, is provided: in the portion 22 of end I'1. j.

The `relative :arrangement :of `the -two end structures or L-shapedterminals, in the finished form of :the bracket, yis such that -the intermediate portions `I8 and` 22fare parallel, while thegsame applies to the end portions I9 `.and 23. Thus the bracketis symmetrically formed with respect to its; vpreferably rectilinear body portion and is thus rendered readily reversible, endl for end, without altering .its intended dual .function as a hanger typesupport for a lower shelf, :and concurrently or `ccuijointly as a support Afor the inner or wall-engaging fend of an upper shelf.. Moreover, the bracket. is; adapted through the end slots 42t ,and`24, forwall-mounting at either end, whichever one Kthereof engagesy the wallV in 'a `given shelf-assembly.

Mounting of the bracket to the wall t0 is -attained inthe following preferred manner: 4The Ibracket securing yelement 2I provided with a substantial'ly `rectangular head 25, being suitably i located on and threaded intothe wall, is arranged sothat the major dimension of .the head `is horizontal (Fig. 4.). Thebracketis then held horizontally, with .one .endadjacent -the head 25.?ina .position such that the sloty lor "24) registers therewith, whereupon the slotted end may be brought over and engaged with the element 2| by projection of the head through the slot until the slot-containing bracket portion (I8 or 22) is disposed between the wall and the head 25. After the last noted step, the bracket may be rotated about the element 2| as a pivot, into a vertical or shelf-supporting position. The bracket slot now having its major dimension at a right angle tothe corresponding dimension of the head 25, the bracket will be thus effectively retained by the element 2|, in its mounted posi- ...tion on the wall I8. The end portion (I8 or 22) "ci" the bracket provides as will now appear, a

wall-bearing surfacetherefor, in the wall-mounted` position of the bracket (Fig. 1). Removal of the bracket from its wall mounting, may be readily effected'merely by reversing the mounting procedure, as above described.

VReferring to Figs. 1 and 2, a plurality or set of brackets I4 supporting the .lowermost `shelf Il of the shelf-bank, are shown in one assemblyposition thereof, each with its end I6 hooked over the outer edge of the shelf II, such that the shelf edge rests upon the inner surface of the bracket end portion I9 and abuts the bracket portion I8. It is to be noted here and as shown i-n the` drawing, that since the shelf II is the bottom or lowerrnost one in the bank, the inner or wall-abutting edge 3| thereof, may be supported by any suitable mea-ns, as the vangle pieces 32.

The upper end Hof each bracket t4 serving to support the edge 30 of shelf II, 4is secured to the wall I0- in .the mannerhereina-bove described,

the lend yportion 23 thereof projecting horizontally Voutwardly lfrom the wall. `llt is parenthetcally noted that .the term wall is utilized herein in a broad sense-in that it" may .consist ofv `a separate vertical `supporting strip of any suitable rnateriakas wel-l as a partition or building` Wall element of 'the usual forms. The term as thus utilized, may be defined as a vertical, ancilfor the support thereof. The` outer edge 34 of shelf I2 isysupported or `suspended by another set of the brackets I4, these brackets however, forpurposes of illustration, being reversed end for end and disposed in the same relative assem'- bly ,positions occupied 'by theirst 'set of brackets therebelow. As appears then, the end I'I- of each ishooked over-the outergedge- 34 .of the shelf, the shelf edge resting upon 4the finner surface of the bracket end portion 23 and .abutting the portion 22. The opposite end .I6 of each bracket is secured tothe wall Hl, as by the element 2I inthe manner before-.described for the lower set of brackets, the end portion I9 of each nowV projecting .horizontally from the wall I0 for support Yof `the inner edge 35 of vthe top shelf I3 in the bank.y Theouter edge 3S ofshelf I3 is suspended by a third'set of the brackets I4, arranged similarly to either the rst mentioned set of brackets orthe second set.

- It will be observed now,'that with `respect to the shelves I.2 and I3 above the bottom shelf II, these are supported `or hung on wall i!) by the three sets of hanger brackets t4, which intcooperation with the wall Ill, thus prov-ide the sole supporting-means therefor. TheV bottom orlowermostshelf II is the only` one requiring supporting means other than the brackets I4, for its inner edge 3I. In the support of a single shelf, by brackets I4, the arrangement may be substantially `similar to that described for the bottom shelf II of the bank illustrated, as will now appear. Moreover, it now becomes evident that by employing bracket elements of equal length, a uniformspacing of the shelves may be readily attained,N Obviously, where it is desired to provide an unequal spacing of certain or all of the shelves in a given shelf-bank, such may be attained through the employment of bracket sets `of unequal length in thel respective superposed banks. l l

Figs. and 6 illustratea modification in the support of a shelf by the brackets I4. As there shown, and preferably utilized `on the larger or more ,heavily loaded shelving, `a channel-shaped member 31, preferably of metallic material, may be employed to strengthen `the shelf `transversely at the Zones of its support by the brackets. The member 31 constitutes essentially, a bridge-piece between the upper end portion (I9 or 23) of one bracket I4 and the lower end portion (23`or I8) of an adjacent bracket (Fig. 5), the ends of the member seating on these bracket portions and providing a continuous lateral bearing yfor the shelf. The channel members or other selected form of transverse bridge or brace, are preferably beveled `olf at their opposite ends as shown at 38, and are preferably secured to the under surface of the shelving as by screws 4D, extending through apertures 4I. The transverse reinforcing elements are thus, because of their beveled ends, kept out of substantial abutment with the wall or other vertical support, and by reason of screws 4U, are removable with the shelving, from the hangers or brackets.

Fig. 7 illustrates the manner in which a plurality of the brackets may be grouped or nested, for shipping or storage purposes and the like. Disposition of them in relatively small or restricted spaces, is thus facilitated.

It will have appeared from `the description of hanger or bracket structure and assembled shelving, that, in distinction from the prevailing types of shelf mounting elements, the tendency in the present design is for the Weight of the shelf board, Whether or not augmented by loading on the shelving, to draw in the lower end of the hanger or bracket element, i. e., to tend not only to pull the bracket closer in toward the shelving, but to tend to cause the shelving and bracket assembly closely to hug the wall or other vertical 'support on which the assembly is mounted.

It will further have appeared that, due to the relatively small area and linear extent of the legs of the right angle terminal portions of the hangers, each type of hanger of given dimensions, serves to accommodate a substantial range of different widths of shelving; for example, on a bracket or hanger in which the body portion is of 10% length, the hangermay be utilized easily` tion, has a distinct advantage in assembly and erection in that it eliminates niceties of selection between ends of the hangers, and obviates the necessity forV any distinction in mounting, betweenl the upper and lower hanger or bracket ends. l

It will further have appeared that the structure described fully attains each of the objectives hereinabove specifically stated, as well as others implied from the detailed description of a preferred embodiment.

While the foregoing description relates only to a preferred embodiment of the invention, as illustrated by the drawing, alterations and modifications may be rnade in the structure thereof, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as defined by the app-ended claims.

I claim:

1. A bracket of the type described, adapted for the support of a'shelf on a wall or the like, the bracket beingfcomprised of a one-piece metallic strip member terminating at its ends in reversely bent elements of like form, projecting laterally but oppositely, relative to the strip member, thereby adapting either end of the bracket member for supporting engagement with the overhanging edge of a Wall-shelf, in a position such that the opposite end engages the Wall, for securement l of the bracket thereto.

2. A bracket of the type described, adapted for the support of a pair of adjacent, vertically spaced shelves on a wall or the like, the bracket being comprised of a one-piece metallic strip member terminating at its ends in reversely bent elements of like form, projecting laterally but oppositely, relative to the strip member, thereby adapting either end of the bracket member for supporting engagement with the overhanging edge of one of said shelves, in a position such that the opposite end of the member engages theinner or wall-abutting edge of the other shelf, for the support thereof.

3. A bracket of the type described, adapted for the support of a pair of adjacent, vertically spaced shelves on a wall or the like, the bracket being comprised of a one-piece metallic strip member terminating at its ends in reversely bent elements of like form, projecting laterally but oppositely, relative to the strip member, thereby adapting either end of the bracket member for supporting engagement with the overhanging edge of one of said shelves, in a position such that the opposite end of the member engages the inner or wallabutting edge of the other shelf, for the support thereof, and engages also, the wall on which the shelves are arranged, for the support of the bracket thereon.

4. A suspension type shelf hanger or bracket, formed of a single metal strip and shaped to provide a rectilinear body portion of substantial length, and an L-shaped `terminal element at each end of the body portion, said terminal elements extending laterally and oppositely, relative to the body portion, and the corresponding varm portions of the L-shaped elements being i substantially parallel, whereby the bracket may be reversed, end-for-end, in the application thereof to the support of shelving.

5. A suspension type shelf hanger or bracket, formed of a single metal strip and shaped to provide a rectilinear body of substantial length, terminating at one end in an L-shaped element projected laterally of the body, and at its opposite end in a like L-shaped element projected laterally of the body and oppositely to the rst said element, said. elements being fof; relatively short. extent 1in relation to thelength ,of the b oely and having the corresponding arm; portions thereof; arranged so as to be substantially parallel, ,and said elements each rbeing apertured for selectively receiving means serving to secure the bracket to a wall or other support.

6. A suspension type shelf lhanger or bracket, formed of a single metal v.strip and shaped toprovide `a rectilinear body of substantial length', terminating at one end in an L-sha-ped element vprojected laterally from one side of the body, and .at its opposite end in a like L-,shaped element projected laterally from the opposite `side .of the bodyfSaid elements being of relatively short extent as compared to the length of the body, ,and further, being relatively'reversed `in yposition such that the corresponding arm portions thereof are in substantial' parallelism, i wherebyv the ,bracket maybe reversed, end-for-end, in -the application thereof Ito, `the .support of shelving, each of isaid elements being apertured for .selectively receiving means `serving to secure the bracket to la -Wall or other support.

7. -A reversiblelwall-shelf bracket of the char--` acter described, comprising a one-piece strip memberformed to provide at the` ends thereof, substantially identical elements `each adapted for supported engagement with a Wall and Afor supe,

porting-engagement with a shelf.

8, Areversiblebraoket of the character described,

comprising a one-piece strip member formed to provide substantially identical, angulate terminal elements at the ends thereof, `the corresponding portions y,of said terminal elements beingsubstantially parallel.

9.. A reversible wall-shelf 'bracket of the character described, comprising a one-piecestrip member formed to provide substantially identical, relatively reversed terminal elements at the .ends thereof ,the terminal elements being arranged on the strip `member `such that'in either position of the bracket, one of said terminal elements serves to support one edge of one shelf and the other element the opposite edge of another shelf.

`10. A reversible wall-shelf bracketof the character described, comprising a one-piece rectilinear strip member formed to provide substan-v tially identical angulate terminal elements at the ends thereof, said elements being relatively reversed and arranged such that in either operative position of the bracket, one thereof is in supported engagement with a Wall and in supporting engagement with one edge of a shelf, while the opposite angulate terminal element is thereby positioned for the support within the ,angulate terminal, ofthe opposite edgeof another shelf.

RAYMOND E. BEEGLE. 

